By Buck Lovell     photos by Buck Lovell

 Here’s a trivia question for ya…..where is the only jail on earth that sells beer? The answer is Deadwood Tobacco Company in Deadwood, South Dakota. Deadwood Tobacco Company is located below street level on Main Street in the historic Town of Deadwood, SD. It is not only a favorite hangout for local motorcycle riders, cowboys, and cigar smokers, it’s the only place in the Lawrence County, South Dakota where one can smoke cigars, cigarettes and other tobacco products pruchased inhouse. Deadwood Tobacco has more than 800 facings (cigar brands for sale) and almost an equal number of beer and wine choices. During the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August, it is packed to sardine-can status with motorcycle riding customers that travel from far away domestic locations as Florida, Maine, and South California. Most all of them are looking for a good cigar, and a hangout for smokers. Deadwood Tobacco has a walk-in humidor, the largest cigar humidor in the state, to keep it’s cigars in prime smoking condition. International motorcycles riders come here too, from as far away as Germany, Sweden, and all points Europe. If you’re considering a roadworthy motorcycle trip in the near future through the Midwest United States, Deadwood should be at the top of your short list, at least during the summer months of warm riding weather.

 During the summer tourist season, a daily gunfight in the streets of Deadwood takes place. As in the movies the happy ending occurs with the shooting of the outlaw actor. Sometimes he’s taken to jail, but not the jail that sells beer. Tourist, visitors, and wide-eyed children gawk at the spectacle. Smoking guns and period costumes lend to the effect of a lawless burg like that of Deadwood in the late 1800’s. When the smoke clears, modern Deadwood reappears. It’s old fashioned fun you can’t get anywhere else. Swing your leg over the saddle of that Bagger and make the trip, it’s worth the ride!!

Vaughn Boyd, owner operator of Deadwood Tobacco Company personally greets every customer.

There are many old tunnels and other underground passages under the streets of Deadwood.

This is the walk-in humidor. It would probably take more than a year to smoke a different cigar a day from this display!

Belly up to the bar for your favorite beer or wine, there is wide variety of either to choose from.

This is the motley Deadwood Tobacco crew. They practice smiling every day. You would too, working around all that beer, wine, and cigars.

Children contain a lot of liquid, that’s why they are not allowed in the humidor. Oh yeah…it’s the law. No minors allowed in the Deadwood Tobacco store proper.